Stamp



March 12, 1940. H, J MEUND 2,193,564

STAMP Filed Aug. 14, 1939 ,6/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. ,12, 1940 STAllH' Henry J. Melind, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Julius W. Melind,

Application August 14,

18 Claims.

This invention relates to band type stamps, more particularly to changeable band type stamps such as band dating stamps, band numbering machines and the like, and has for its principal 5 object the provision of a new and improved device of this kind.

' It is themain object of the invention to provide, in a changeable type stamp, means for automatically aligning the type characters in a straight line.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a changeable band type stamp in which the bands are moved in definite steps to change the setting of the stamp.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a bridge for band type stamp having angular corners over which the type bands are sharply bent thereby to reduce the Voids or spaces between adjacent type characters and to permit the use of a shorter band.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide, in a band type stamp, a bridge which moves with the type band as changes are being made thereby to eliminate the drag between the bridge and band and to lengthen the life of the band.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a band type stamp in which the bands are under a lower tension so as to make it easier to change the stamp from one setting toanother.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a changeable type band that can be more cheaply manufactured without sacrificing quality.

Still further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned here, will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown byway of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a stamp, embodying the teachings of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the stamp, partly in section along the line'2-2 in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showing particularly the bridge shaft slot;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a modified type of traction wheel; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the bridge and bridge shaft construction. 7

Band type stamps are commonly employed as dating stamps, numbering stamps and the like.

Chicago, Ill.

1939, Serial No. 289,941

Heretofore these devices have employed a solid printing bridge having a flat surface for backing up the type characters in printing position and having rounded edges over which the type bands are bent. Traction wheelsare employed to tension the bands and to move the same to change the setting of the stamp, the bands being dragged over the immovable. bridge during this operation. Because of the high friction between the type bands and the immovable bridge it has been necessary heretofore to place the band under considerable tension so as to secure a proper driving connection between the traction wheel and the band, to enable the same to be moved. This high tension has made it difficult to change the set- 5 ting of the stamp and since the type bands have been under considerable tension their life has been relatively short. Furthermore, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, ink frequently works its wayon to the spaces between the band and bridge, the ink drying and tending to increase the friction therebetween with the result that the bands frequently stick and are broken in effort to free them. This is particularly true of the year band since it is very seldom moved, s i Furthermore, in the band type stamps of the prior art, of which I am aware, no satisfactory means has been provided for aligning the type characters in a straight line, and as a result considerable difiiculty is experienced in setting the stamp so as to produce neat results with the characters accurately aligned, this being particularly true in band type. numbering stamps employing a large number of bands. In accordance with the objects of the present invention in its preferrred embodiment, the band type stamp is equipped with a movable bridge of polygonal cross section having printing faces whose lengths are exactly equal to thejwidth of 40 the type band and whose widths are exactly equal to the height of the type characters and clearance space between adjacent characters. I

The bridge is equipped with an axially aligned non-circular hole running through the bridge and 5 through which a polygonal shaft is projected. The shaft is smaller than the opening so as to permit the bridge to turn thereupon. The shaft is held against rotation and as the band is turned the bridge turns with it coming-to rest again in creased appreciably and that the setting of the stamp is made easier by this decreased tension. Since there is no movement of the type band with respect to the bridge the clogging of ink on the surfaces of the bridge does not cause the bands to stick. The bands are separated from the bridge by moving at an angle thereto thereby placing a tearing stress upon the line of engagement of the band with the clogged ink on the bridge, thereby to more readily separate the two.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail, it will be seen that as shown the stamp of my invention comprises a handle block I which is of generally rectangular shape but is shaped to form a hand grip and is provided with a flat face 2 on which characters marking the front of the stamp, trade-mark data, etc., may be impressed. The handle l is provided with fiat ends located in parallel planes. The block may be composed of wood or a molded material within the teachings of the invention.

Disposed against the ends of the block l are end plates 3 and lwhich are flat metallic plates having flanges 4 which overhang the block I to definitely locate the plates and block with respect to each other. The plates 3 and l extend beyond the block to form a mounting for the other elements of the stamp. These projecting portions of the plates are shaped so as to provide protection for the type bands and so as to be of pleasing appearance. If desired the plates may be composed of a bright shiny metal such as stainless steel, or if desired may be composed of other metals suitably plated and polished.

Located in the free ends of the plates 3 and 4 is a slot 5, Figure 3, which in the embodiment shown has a V shaped inner end disposed with its apex upon the median line of the plate. The slot has parallel straight edges extending from the V to the end of the plate.

Disposed in the slot 6 and extending between the end plates 3 and 4 is a bridge shaft 7 that is provided with slots 8 which overhang the edges of the slots 6 to fix the shaft against longitudinal movement.

Mounted upon the shaft 1 is a bridge 9, best seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5-, which is provided with an axially aligned perforation Ill having faces located at angles of 45 with respect to the outer faces of the bridge, the corners of the perforation being located on the median lines of the bridge.

As will be seen in Figure 4 the distance between the opposite faces of the perforation H! is slightly greater than the diagonal dimension of the shaft l, so that the bridge may be turned upon the shaft. The shaft is located with its lower faces, Figure 2, disposed at angle of 45 with respect to a plane through the vertical centerof the stamp, so that when the bridge 9 is at rest in the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, the lower or printing face of the bridge will be at rightangles to a plane through the vertical center line of the stamp.

shown in the drawing the shaft l and the perforation l0 and the bridge 9 are all shown as being of square cross section, this showing being by way of example only, as the use of other shapes is p o .Jle and is contemplated witliain the teachings of the invention. As will be seen best in Figure 5, when the bridge 9 is in printing position, adjacent sides 20 and 2! are disposed at an angle to the lower or printing face of the bridge. The shaft 7 has two fiat faces disposed at an to each other, these flat faces bearing against faces 20 and 2| to hold the bridge firmly in position. When the bridge and shaft are square the faces 23 and 2| are disposed on an angle of 45. With other polygonal shaped bridges and shafts this angle will vary. The bridge and shaft may both be triangular, or pentagonal, or hexagonal, or octagonal as well as shown, or a triangular bridge may be used with any one of the other shaped bridges, provided the angle between the faces of the shaft is the same as the angle between the faces, such as 26 and 2|, engaged thereby. If desired the shaft may have but one flat face and the perforation in the bridge the same number of faces as the number of printing faces, the perforation faces being engaged with the shaft face one at a time as the bridge is turned. The shape of the opening must be the same as the shape of the bridge and the dimension S of the opening, that is the distance between opposite faces, must be slightly greater than the dimension S of the shaft, so as to permit the bridge to turn on the shaft, as will presently appear. The backside of the shaft, that is the side opposite the faces engaging 23 and 2:, may be arcuate, or any other desired shape. Preferably the corners of the shaft arerounded slightly so as not to scrape the walls bounding perforation It as the bridge moves over the shaft.

A second shaft ll extends between the end plates 3 and d and is provided slots l2 which engage the end plates to lock the shaft with respect to the plates.

Journalled upon the shaft II are plurality of traction wheels each comprising a driving means it and a driving disk M. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the driving means is cylindrical and its outer surface is knurled or otherwise roughened to establish a good driving connection with the type'band. In the embodiment Encircling the bridge 9 and the driving means it is a type band 15 preferably composed of rubber and having type characters l6 separated by spaces H. The width of the type bands are precisely the same as the length of the bridges 9 and driving means Hi.

In order to'insure proper spacing between the type characters on the individual bands and to insure that the bridges will remain in proper alignment upon the shaft 1, washers H! are placed upon theshaft between the bridges and between the bridges and the end plates. These washers are provided with perforations having diameter slightly greater than the diagonal dimension of the shaft, so that the washer may turn upon the shaft. The outer diameter of the washer is such that they extend slightly beyond the faces of the bridge so as to provide an abutment against which the edges of the type band rest to insure that the band will at all times be properly positioned upon the bridge.

When it is desired to change the type band from one setting to another the serrated disk is turned whereupon the type band and bridge beginto move in a corresponding direction the bridge sliding upon the shaft from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 to the position to which distance between the faces of the bridge engaged I by the type bandand the driving means i 3 thereby to lengthen the type band, and increaseits tension. Because of the frictional drag ofthe bridgeupon the shaftthe leading type band,

that is, the band moving from the bridge. to the traction means l3, will be under slightly greater tension than the trailing band which is moving toward the bridge. When the bridge is located at the point of maximum tension in which it is shown in'Figure 4 it isin an unstable'position,

and a slight additionalmovement will cause the bridge to snap ahead into the position jin'which it is shown in Figure 2. This operation produces a definite step by step movement of the type.

band and bridge during setting of the stamp.

It will be noted that there is no movement of the band across the printing face of the bridge during changing of theband, 'As will be seen in Figure 2 there are V shaped spaces iflbetw'een the bridge faces adjacent to the printing face and the type band, and as the band is moved,'during the first part of thism'ovement, the angularity of this space it is increased to the value shown in Figure 4. Should there be ink or other sticky material upon the face of the bridge this 'in-' creasing of the angularity of the space between V the band 'and'bridge produces a'tearing action of the type band can belessened.

which readily separates the band from the bridge with the result that I have found that the band may bechangecl under conditions which would certainly cause freezing of the bands in the prior art stamps of which I am aware.

As will be seen in Figure 2 when the type character 6 is in printing position, the adjacenttype characters IEA are bent away from the type character lB- at a much sharper angle than has been possible in type bands in stamps of the prior art; As a result of this sharp bending of the band it is possible to move the characters H5A out of printing position with a much smaller distance between these characters and the printing characters it." In other words, the" clearance space ll between adjacent type characters can be reduced and as a result the length The s rp angles at which the bands are bent on leaving the bridge makes the widthof the end of the stamps substantially the same as the height of the characters on the printing bridge. advantageous since it makes it easier .to position the impression made by-the stampf'on desired line or in a desired space.

The sharp 'a-ngle bend in the type band produces a further advantage in that the typebharacters on the printing bridge are held flat sofas to print clearly fromtop to bottom. In the prior art stamps using the U shaped bridge, the'type characters are not flat and printing is not always satisfactory, particularly letters such as and B having top and bottom horizontal parts.

I have found that with the foregoing construction much less tension is required upon the type bands to insure a satisfactory driving connecticn between the cylindrical driving means l3 and the band. I have. also found that with a polygonal driving means, such as the hexagonal driving means shown in Figure 4, a still smaller tension may be successfully used with. a result ticns at the end of said movement} This isthat less effort is required'to change the type band from" one setting to another.

As is customary in stamps of this type the assembly is held together bythe engagement of thewalls of the groove E2 the shaft H with the end pieces 3 and i. The tension on the bands holds the bridge and shaft in the assembly. The

flanges c upon, the end plates hold the handle "block securely in place. i

The starnpv of'my inventionis possessed of many advantages. It can be manufactured at low castwithout sacrificing quality. The type Ye-and is moved indehnitesteps coming to rest at the end of each stepwithjthe'type characters accurately aligned in printing position, which is very advantageousin stamps having-a large num-' ber of bands.

The ba-ndsfare under low tension all times and consequently their life isjprow sticking of the bands. attractive appearance. 7

While I, have chosen to'show my invention by illustrating ;and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only as there are many modifications and adap-v The stamp is neatand of longed. Accumulatic-ns of ink or other foreign substances on the bridge surfaces do not cause tations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

' Having thus'complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and it is to be protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims;

What .is claimed is: j 3.11: a band type stamp, a frame, a traction wh'eel journalled in said frame, av type band=en-' circling said traction wheel, a rotatable bridge around which saidjband extends, a journal for said bridge onwhich the bridge'turns as theband is moved by the traction wheel, and means including a fiat face on said journal and a cooperatingflat face on" said bridge for bringing the band and bridge to rest in predetermined posi- 2. In a band type stamp, a'frame, a traction wheeljournalled in said frame, a rotatable bridge,

journal means for said bridge, a type band en'- circling said traction wheel andbridge, said band being under tension and adapted to be moved I by thetractionwheel and to rotate said bridge,

a flat on said journal, and means including a with said flat face on said journal by the tension in said band for bringing said band and bridge to rest in predetermined said movement.

3. In a bandtype stamp, a frame, a traction idheel. joulrnalled in said frame, a rotatable bridge, journal means. for said bridge, a type band encirclingsaidtraction wheel and bridge,

' said band being undertension and adapted to be moved by the traction wheel and to rotate said bridge, a plurality of flat faces on said journal, and means including" a plurality of flat faces on said bridge brought into'engagement with said flat faces on said journal .by the tension in saidband for. bringing said band and bridge to rest in predetermined movement."

4. In a band type stamp, a frame, traction positions at the end of said positions at the end of 'fiat face on said bridge brought into engagement 1 wheels journalled therein, type bands encircling 9 said wheels, a polygonal rotatable bridge for each band around which the bandextends, means for journalling said bridges in said and means including a planar face on said' journalling.

2,193,564 gagingsaid end pieces for holding said assembly together.

1'7. In a band type stamp, a handle, end pieces disposed against the ends of said handle and extending therefrom, flanges on said end pieces overlying said handle, a bridge shaft extending between the free ends of said end pieces, a plurality of rotatable bridges on said shaft, a pinrality of Washers on said shaft between said bridges to space the same therealong, a corresponding plurality of traction wheels disposed between said end pieces in juxtaposition to said handle, a type band encircling each bridge and corresponding traction Wheel, said washers extending beyond said bridges and engaging the bands to hold the same on the bridges, a shaft extending between said end pieces upon which said traction wheels are journalled, and means on] said latter shaft engaging said end pieces for holding the assembly together.

18. A frame for band type stamps comprising, a handle block, a pair of fiat end plates disposed against the ends of said block and projecting therefrom, means' projecting out of the planes of said end plates and engaging said block to locate the plates and block with respect to each other, means extending through and engaging said end plates for connecting together the free ends of said plates, and other means engaging said plates and cooperating with said end engaging means for holding the frame together. HENRY J. MELIND. 

